(with Keto, Vegetarian & Gluten free Versions)
Nothing warms the body like a steaming bowl of soup! We have been enjoying this French Onion Soup for years! Onion soups date back to ancient times and have always been a staple because onions are cheap and plentiful and you can always find one around even if you have nothing else! The French made this awesome by making it “gratinéed” this means with crusty bread and bubbling melted cheese on top!
French Onion Soup became popular in America in the 1960’s when French food make a resurgence, hmmm, was it because of Julia Child? Every restaurant in America seems to serve this soup but usually it is a weak version or from a package. This recipe is made from the deep flavor of caramelizing onions, topping it off with white wine and rich beef broth. I use our Beef Bone Broth that is always hanging out in a large jar in our refrigerator. The rich slow cooked flavor adds a great base to this simple recipe that relies on the quality of its ingredients. I snip some sage and thyme from the garden and throw it in the pot as well.
Topped with a crusty slice of bread and melting cheese, it’s perfection in a bowl.
You can make this Keto friendly and gluten free by omitting the flour and bread on the top. Add another hunk or two of butter, this will “amp” up the body of the soup as well as the flavor! You can still place the cheese on the top, Jeff does this all of the time. He just drops the fresh mozzarella right into the soup and it softens up deliciously. This way you don’t need to place it under the broiler. See the picture below of the cheese all melty on the spoon, Yum!
A good tip for vegetarians to get that deep brown color in the broth naturally is to cook your veggie broth with some of the onion skins and peels. These impart many vitamins and nutrients and turn the broth golden brown! I learned this from a “cancer” cookbook, its a tip I always use when I make broth.
French Onion Soup
Ingredients:
4 large yellow onions, sliced into rings
2 Cloves garlic peeled and sliced thin
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
fresh ground pepper
Several sprigs fresh thyme and sage, finely chopped
1 cup white wine (240 ml) (omit for Keto)
2 Tablespoons flour (omit for Keto or Gluten Free)
8 cups Beef broth (2 quarts or 2 liters) (use vegetable broth for vegetarian)
Cheese for melting on top, we use Mozzerella, Swiss or Provolone.
Instructions:
Sauté onions in oil until soft and golden brown. Your color and flavor come from this step so make sure they are richly brown. Add garlic, salt and pepper and sauté until fragrant. Add butter, allow to melt and add flour. Stir and then add the beef broth or beef bouillon and water. Toss in the fresh herbs in and allow to simmer for half an hour. Serve with a slice of crusty bread on top and shredded cheese, place it under the broiler in the oven to melt the cheese and make it golden and bubbly.
Other Keto Friendly Recipes
Saltimbocca (Roman Style Veal Scallopini) (Published February 18, 2018) (also Gluten Free)
Eggplant Parmesan (Published August 29, 2018) (can also be gluten free)
Ossobuco alla Milanese (Milan Style Veal Shanks & Saffron Risotto) Published June 20, 2018) (also can be made Gluten free)
Vietnamese Lemongrass Beef Salad (Bun Bo Xoa) Published March 12, 2018 (also is Gluten Free)
Kung Pao Chicken (Published August 23, 2018) (also is Gluten Free and can be made vegetarian)
Beef Bone Broth (published September 24, 2018) (gluten free)
Classic American Hamburger (published September 25, 2018) (can be gluten free)
Hollandaise Sauce and Eggs Benedict (published September 23, 2018) (can be gluten free)
Italian Roasted Vegetable Platter (published September 13, 2018) (gluten free)
Oven Roasted Herb Chicken and Potatoes (published Sept 29, 2018) (gluten free)
Chili Rellinos (published August 16, 2018) (can be made Gluten Free and Vegetarian)
Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup (November 19, 2018) (Gluten Free and can be made Vegetarian)
Dinner Ideas from Around the World:
Asian Cuisine:
Shrimp Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce (Published August 18, 2017)
Vietnamese Lemongrass Beef Salad (Bun Bo Xoa) Published March 12, 2018
Gyoza (Potstickers or Chinese Dumplings) Published August 27,2018)
Kung Pao Chicken (Published August 23, 2018)
Italian Cuisine:
Pesto Genovese (published September 21, 2018
Saltimbocca (Roman Style Veal Scallopini) (Published February 18, 2018)
Steamed Mussels and Fettuccine (Cozze e Fettuccine) Published May 4, 2019)
Shrimp Risotto (Risotto alla Gamberi) Published June 2, 2018)
Pasta Carbonara (Published May 12, 2018)
Arancini (Italian Fried Rice Balls) Published June 4, 2018)
Ossobuco alla Milanese (Milan Style Veal Shanks & Saffron Risotto) Published June 20, 2018)
Lasagna Bolognese (Published Aug 3, 2018)
Eggplant Parmesan (Published August 29, 2018)
Cacio e Pepe (Published August 28, 2018)
Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage butter (published October 2, 2018)
Polenta with Sausage and Port Rib Ragu (published November 9, 2018)
Polenta “french fries” (published November 14, 2018)
Pumpkin Risotto (Zucca) (published November 7, 2018)
Jewish Style Fried Artichokes (Carciofi all Giudia) 9published October 13, 2018)
Porcini Fettuccine (published October 12, 2018)
Beef and Barley Soup (Zuppa alla Manzo e Farro) published October 6, 2018
American Cuisine:
Southern Fried Chicken (published September 11, 2018)
Spiced Chickpea Salad with Roasted Cauliflower (Published April 22, 2018)
Beef Bone Broth (published September 24, 2018)
Classic American Hamburger (published September 25, 2018)
Oven Roasted Herb Chicken (published September 29, 2018)
Mexican Cuisine:
Shrimp Tacos (Published September 19, 2018)
Chili Rellinos (published August 16, 2018)
Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup (November 19, 2018)
Other Dishes of the World:
Paella (Published November 21, 2018)
Babaganush (Middle Eastern Roasted Eggplant Dip) Published July 29, 2017
Keto Friendly Recipes
Saltimbocca (Roman Style Veal Scallopini) (Published February 18, 2018)
Eggplant Parmesan (Published August 29, 2018)
Ossobuco alla Milanese (Milan Style Veal Shanks & Saffron Risotto) Published June 20, 2018)
Vietnamese Lemongrass Beef Salad (Bun Bo Xoa) Published March 12, 2018
Kung Pao Chicken (Published August 23, 2018)
Beef Bone Broth (published September 24, 2018)
Classic American Hamburger (published September 25, 2018)
Hollandaise Sauce and Eggs Benedict (published September 23, 2018)
Italian Roasted Vegetable Platter (published September 13, 2018)
Oven Roasted Herb Chicken and Potatoes (published Sept 29, 2018)
Chili Rellinos (published August 16, 2018)
Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup (November 19, 2018)
Keto Pumpkin Marscapone Cheesecake Pie (published November 30, 2018)
Side DIshes:
Festive Pineapple Sesame Coleslaw (published September 14, 2018)
Italian Roasted Vegetable Platter (published September 13, 2018)
Pear Gorgonzola Salad (published September 26, 2018)
Desserts:
Cherry Pie (published May 20, 2017)
Homemade Berry Pie (published July 23, 2017)
Almond Roca (published February 22, 2018)
Homemade Banana Cream Pie (published May 10, 2018)
Cannoli (published August 3, 2017)
Easy Authentic Tiramasu (published May 3, 2018)
Ooey Gooey Blonde Brownies (published August 11, 2018)
Old Fashioned Peach Crisp (published August 1, 2018
Classic Canned Peaches (published August 8, 2018)
Noyaux (Almond Extract made from stone fruit pits) Published August 7, 2017
Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream (Published May 25, 2017
Fudgy Chocolate Brownies (published September 30, 2018)
Classic American Apple PIe (published November 17, 2018)
Chocolate Cake with White Chocolate Mousse and Berry Sauce (published October 10, 2018)
Cinnamon Spiced Persimmon Cookies (published November 23, 2018)
Breakfast:
Whole Wheat Waffles (published August 12, 2017)
Dutch Babies (published May 30, 2018)
Hollandaise Sauce and Eggs Benedict (published September 23, 2018)
Canning and Preserving:
Noyaux (French bitter almond extract from stone fruit) (Published Aug 7, 2017)
Sweet & Spicy Pickles (Published July 6, 2017)
Canned Peaches (Published August 23, 2018)
Ricotta from Powdered Milk (Published Aug 5, 2017)
Candied Orange Peel (Published September 12, 2018)
For other great travel articles about living in Italy or Traveling around Europe, try one from our Archives:
A Morning Run in Nettuno (Published September 10, 2017)
A Visit to Castelli Romani (Published September 13, 2017)
Dinner for Six (Published October 1, 2017)
Italian Cooking School (Published October 8, 2017)
Culinary Tour of Napoli (Published November 17, 2017)
Changing Seasons in Italy (Published November 25, 2017)
Our Trip to Englands Cotswolds (Published January 12, 2018)
Cooking with Pasquale (Published January 28, 2018)
A Tour of the Garden of Ninfa (Published May 7, 2018)
A Trip to Montefiascone (Published May 17, 2018)
San Gimignano, a visit to a Tuscan Hill Town (Published June 9, 2018)
Tuscan Hot Springs of San Filippo & Saturnia (Published June 13, 2018)
August in Sperlonga (Published August 30, 2018)
Villas, Palaces and Fortresses (Published November 25, 2018)
Articles about Tiny House “Homesteading” in California:
The Beginning of a Blog (Published May 18, 2017)
The Cherry Tree (Published May 20, 2017)
How to Roast Your Own Coffee Beans (Published May 22, 2017)
Successful Square Foot Gardening (Published May 23, 2017)
Yosemite (Published June 7, 2017)
My Tiny House (Published June 15, 2017)
